Opera launches Chromium/Blink engine for RDK STBs

Opera Software has launched what it claims is an industry first in the TV operator and devices sphere. Now, pay-TV operators and their partners deploying the Reference Design Kit (RDK), a pre-integrated software bundle developed and licensed to create a common framework for powering IP or hybrid set-top boxes and gateway devices, can get use the Chromium/Blink engine, via the Opera Devices SDK, in their set-top boxes.

The Opera Devices SDK integrates seamlessly into the RDK environment, replacing Qt/WebKit as the rendering engine and providing direct integration to the RDK ServiceManager and the RDK Media Framework from HTML/CSS/JavaScript applications.

Support for the RDK is an important step forward for the Opera Devices SDK. Opera´s Chromium/Blink SDK for the RDK simplifies the path to web services in operator-controlled environments. What this means for set-top-box OEMs and operators is simple: cross-platform rendering of operator portals and web services, in addition to readily-available HTML5 web content in the form of TV Apps. Blink brings the latest web standards for making UIs, in turn providing a slicker, more cost-effective way of getting the content that consumers want onto the platforms they use every day.

“Delivering the Opera Devices SDK for RDK is a big milestone, not only for us, but also for any operator wishing to secure its HTML5 roadmap while improving time-to-market,” says Aneesh Rajaram, SVP for TV and Devices, Opera Software. “With a growing and engaged community, the RDK is quickly being embraced by CE manufacturers, SOCs vendors and other software developers, system integrators, and TV service providers around the world. Opera is proud to bring its experience to the RDK community, with over ten years of delivering web-browser SDK’s to tens of millions of connected TV devices worldwide.”